Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

.H. BARNARD.

THILL COUPLING.

N0.417,969. P-atentd 1300.24.1889.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT BARNARD, OF LOTUS, INDIANA.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,969, dated December24, 1889.

' Application filed September 5, 1889- $erial No. 323,048. (No model.)

, T coZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT BARNARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lotus, in the county of Union and State of Indiana, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Thill-Couplings, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved non-rattlingthill-coupling of simple and durable construction adapted to take upwear and maintain a tight connection that can be readily adjusted at anytime.

My invention consists in the construction and combination of parts in athill-coupling provided with an elastic anti-rattling cushion, ashereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a viewof that part of the coupling which is attached to the vehicleaxle'. Fig.2 is aside elevation of that part of the coupling which forms the shaftend. Fig. 3 is a plan of the shaft end of the coupling. Fig. 4 is adetail view of the cushion and its retaining and adjusting devices. Fig.

5 is a view of a bolt for preventing lateral spread of the thill-ironand taking up lateral wear between said part and the socket or eye withwhich it is engaged. Fig. 6 is a view of the thill-coupling, showing theseveral parts connected and in proper relation.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a vehicle-axle, and2 a metal plate or bar that is clipped or otherwise secured thereto. Inthe forward end of the metal plate or bar 2 is formed an eye or socket3, from which an open-ended slot 4: extends diagonally upward andbackward. The slot 4 affords passage into and from the eye or socket 3,in which are inserted two horizontal lugs 5,th'at project toward eachother from the opposite prongs 6, that form the bifurcated end of thethill-iron 7. After the lugs 5 have been passed through the slot 4 intothe eye or socket 3 an elastic cushion 8, of rubber or other suitablematerial, is inserted in said slot, so as to bear on said lugs. Thecushion 8 is concaved on its under or inner side, as shown, tocorrespond to the cylindrical form of the lugs 5 on which it rests. Inthe center of the cushion 8, at a point corresponding with the spacebetween the lugs 5, is an opening 9, which corresponds also with anopening 10 in the center of aretaining bar or plate 11, that is insertedin the slot 4: above said cushion. The parts are then securely connectedby passing a bolt 12 through the eye or socket 3 in line with thediagonal slot 4, and through the cushion 8 and plate 11, and thenturning down a nut 13 on the end of said bolt. The bolt 12 passesbetween the ends of the lugs 5 and through the openings 9 and 10,respectively, of the elastic cushion and its retaining-plate Instead ofa centrally-perforated cushion 8, it is obvious that two short cushionsmight be employed, each of sufficient length to cover one of the lugs.By tightening the nut 13 wear of the parts can be readily taken up,while the elastic cushion forms an effective device for preventingrattling.

In order to obviate spreading of the prongs 6, and at the same timeprovide means for taking up lateral wear on the eye or socket, eachprong 6 is provided with a depending flange or ear 14, having an opening15 for passage of a bolt 16, by which said flanges are'connected, a nut17 being placed on one end of said bolt to afford a ready means fordrawing the prongs of the thill-iron together, so as to exert anydesired degree of friction on the socket-piece.

It will be seen that the various parts of the coupling can be readilyadjusted as required to take up wear and prevent rattling, while theparts being few and simple can be re placed at slight expense wheneverit becomes necessary.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A thill-coupling consisting of asocketpiece having an eye and an open-ended slot, a bifurcatedthill-iron having each arm provided with a separate lug, said lugs beingseparated by an intervening space, an elastic cushion in the slot abovethe two separated lugs, a plate on the cushion, and a bolt extendingthrough the space between the ends of the lugs and through the cushionand plate, substantially as shown and described.

2. A thin-coupling composed of a socketthe thill-iron, and means forholding the said piece having an eye provided with an opencushion inplace, substantially as described. 10 ended slot, a bifurcatedthill-iron having lugs In testimony whereof I have affixed my sigengagedin said eye and provided with denature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

5 pending flanges connected by a screw-bolt to HERBERT BARNARD.

prevent spreading of the thill-iron prongs, an NVitnesses: elasticcushion located in the slot of the sock- 0. WV. SMITH, et-piece andbearing on the engagings-lugs of L. W. FREEMAN.

